Purcellville Police Report, Jan. 29

01/22/21          11:40a.m.        100 Block of N. 16^th Street                             Runaway

A father called police because he learned that his 16-year-old daughter, who had been staying with a friend and her family in West Virginia, had not been logging into school for distance learning. He called and told her to return home, but she refused. The investigating officer made phone contact with the 16-year-old and discovered that she was in North Carolina with a family friend. He urged her to call her father to work out a solution to this matter.   The officer also called the Department of Family Services and Child Protective Services to share and receive information regarding the family situation.  As this was progressing, he received a call from the girl’s father who reported that he spoke with his daughter, and that he was willing to let her stay in North Carolina as long as she logged into school every day, and he confirmed with the family that she was welcome to be there.  All of this information was shared with the aforementioned social service agencies.  

01/22/21          10:02 p.m.       100 Block of Fraser Drive                             Check on Welfare

The principal of Emerick E.S. called police after receiving an alert regarding an e-mail sent over a school system issued Chrome book, in which, one 4^th grade student asked another if she wanted to die, to which the student responded, “yes.”  The officer made contact with the parents and the student, and the principal. Together they determined that the students were making a terrible joke but that she had no intention of harming herself.  A meeting between the family and school staff was scheduled for 1/25/21.

01/23/21          10:56 a.m.       600 Block of G. Street                                                Domestic Dispute

Police responded for a verbal domestic dispute between a couple that had broken off the relationship, but were still living together. The male half of the former couple agreed to move out within 30 days, but they were arguing over who would keep their dog. As both had standing in the residence, the officer asked them to avoid contact by staying in their respective rooms, and provided the primary resident with information about the eviction and protective order process, should it become necessary.

01/23/21          6:51 p.m.         100 Block of N. 16^th Street                             Domestic Dispute

Officers responded to a multigenerational residence for a domestic dispute between a parent and her adult son. The call to police was placed by the grandparent.  Upon arrival, police made contact with the instigator of the dispute, the son, who was walking back to his apartment.  He promised not to go back to his mother’s residence. Police waited until he went into his residence, and left, as no further police intervention was necessary.

01/23/21          10:03 p.m.       610 W. Main Street                                        Disorderly Conduct

While on a traffic stop, the reporting officer heard and observed an argument between two employees of the 7-Eleven store.   While there was an exchange of profanity and the men were standing chest to chest, no blows were thrown.   As one employee was near the end of his shift, he agreed to leave a few minutes early to avoid further conflict.   No additional police intervention was required.  

01/24/21          8:59 p.m.         700 E. Main Street                                         Petit Larceny

At approximately 8:54 p.m. three teens entered the 7-Eleven, wearing dark hooded sweatshirts with the hoods up and walked to the back of the store.   They each grabbed two twelve packs of assorted alcoholic beverages and fled the store on foot, south bound on Maple Avenue.    

01/26/21          11:08 a.m.          701 W. Main Street                                        Larceny

The complainant reported that on 1/10/21, a customer purchased items, including a riding helmet. During a subsequent inventory, she discovered a lower priced helmet of a different brand was in a box for a higher priced helmet. The only recent helmet purchase was made by the aforementioned customer of Jan. 10.   The investigating officer was able to identify and contact the customer of the Jan. 10 purchase, and she admitted to switching the helmets.   The owner was interested in restitution, and not prosecution so arrangements were made for the customer to pay the difference.  Additionally, she will be barred from the premises. 

01/26/21          2:54 p.m.         1000 E. Main Street                                       Larceny

A loss prevention officer observed a suspect conceal personal cosmetics in her purse and on her person, and enter the store restroom.  Staff confronted the suspect who produced items valued at $29.11. The suspect was cited for concealing merchandise, and served with a trespassing notice from the store.

Cited and released was Isabella Shoemaker, 19, of Winchester, VA.

01/27/21          8:29 a.m.         100 Block N. 16^th Street                                 Larceny-License Plates.

The victim reported that sometime between 7 p.m. Jan. 26^, and 8:20 a.m. on Jan. 27, someone stole both license plates from his car, which was parked in the lot near his building. There did not appear to be any entry into the vehicle.  The license plate numbers were entered as stolen.      

01/27/21          8:35 a.m.         151 W.  Main Street                                       Suspicious Incident

A staff member at the Blue Ridge Hospice Thrift Shop opened the store on Jan. 27 at 8:20 and discovered a hole in the front window glass.  The window was last seen intact on Jan. 26 at 7:30 p.m.  Responding officers found glass inside the building and based on the location of the glass and the size of the hole, it appeared that it was the result of a gunshot. A search of the area yielded neither a bullet nor a shell casing. The Sheriff’s Office Crime Scene Unit processed the scene. 

Anyone with information regarding this incident is asked to call Officer Lauren Ritter at 540-338-7422 x 129.

01/27/21          1:18 p.m.         700 E. Main Street                                         Larceny

A Good Samaritan found a wallet that had been left on top of the gas pumps at the 7-Eleven and turned it over to the Police.  The owner of the wallet responded and claimed the wallet, but reported that $300.00 was missing.  The investigating officer is reviewing video from the 7-Eleven security system and the investigation is on-going.

01/27/21         9:44 p.m.         300 Block of S. 20^th street                              Drunk in Public

ECC received a 911 call and could hear a man in the background making threatening statements to cause harm. The call was abruptly terminated. The responding officers responded and learned that the man, who was intoxicated, had left the scene following a domestic dispute. He returned while officers were still present, who confirmed the intoxication and arrested him for being drunk in public.  He was transported to the Adult Detention Center, where he will remain until he is sober. 

Arrested was: Sterling Evans, 56 of Purcellville, VA